Audi and SAIC Motor Innovation & Technology Center Launches in Shanghai

Audi and SAIC Motor have established the Audi and SAIC Motor Innovation & Technology Center in Shanghai, creating a joint innovation and technology center dedicated to the AUDI brand. The new joint venture has vehicle and end-to-end development capabilities and will jointly develop four new models for the Chinese market. Its creation expands the partnership beyond product development and supply-chain integration into a broader local research and development system. The center is designed to combine German engineering expertise, local development capabilities and China's supply-chain strengths to accelerate the development of next-generation AUDI products.

Shanghai Center Expands Audi-SAIC Development Partnership

The AUDI Innovation & Technology Center, headquartered in Shanghai, will focus on smart electric vehicle technologies and vehicle development. Its areas of work include vehicle dynamics and handling, AI-powered smart cockpits and next-generation advanced driver-assistance systems. The center will also work on software-defined vehicles and AI-defined vehicles, reflecting the growing importance of software, artificial intelligence and connected technologies in vehicle development. With these capabilities under one organization, Audi and SAIC Motor intend to establish a more comprehensive local R&D system capable of supporting vehicle engineering, technology integration and future product development for the Chinese market.

Four New AUDI Models to Use ADP 2.0 Platform

Audi and SAIC Motor will develop four new AUDI models for China based on the Audi ADP 2.0, or Advanced Digitized Platform 2.0, platform. These vehicles will constitute the AUDI brand's second product wave in China and are intended to broaden its existing lineup. The first model from this second wave is scheduled to debut in 2028. The development program builds on the brand's strategy of creating products specifically for the Chinese market while using a technology platform designed around advanced digital functions and smart electric vehicle capabilities. The four models are expected to further expand AUDI's market coverage.

AITC Leadership and Ownership Structure

The innovation center will have approximately 300 employees. Audi has appointed Matthias Pfister as general manager, while SAIC has named Shan Yunwei as deputy general manager. Pfister previously headed SAIC Volkswagen's Shanghai Pre-Series Center and will oversee AITC's operational strategy, R&D integration and business development. Fred Schulze, CEO of Audi-SAIC Cooperation and chairman of AITC, said the center will serve as an innovation driver for AUDI's next-generation products. SAIC, Audi and Volkswagen Group China hold stakes of 49%, 41% and 10%, respectively, in AITC, according to previously disclosed information.

AUDI Product Strategy Continues to Expand in China

AUDI is a sister brand of Audi created specifically for the Chinese market and uses an all-capital-letter wordmark rather than Audi's traditional four-ring logo. The brand was unveiled in November 2024, and its first production model, the E5 Sportback, went on sale in China in September 2025. The first SUV, the E7X, followed in May 2026, while a third model from the first product wave is scheduled to launch in 2027. The subsequent four ADP 2.0-based models will represent the brand's second product wave and are intended to broaden its coverage of the Chinese market.

Dual-Brand Strategy Combines Global and Local Capabilities

AITC represents a key component of Audi's dual-brand strategy in China, bringing together German engineering, SAIC's local development efficiency and China's extensive supply-chain capabilities. The partnership is expanding from individual product development and supply-chain integration toward a dedicated local R&D structure with responsibility across vehicle technologies and development activities. By concentrating expertise in smart EV technologies, AI-powered cockpits, advanced driver-assistance systems, software-defined vehicles and AI-defined vehicles, AITC is positioned to support the next generation of AUDI products and accelerate their development for the Chinese market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Audi and SAIC Motor Innovation & Technology Center?
The Audi and SAIC Motor Innovation & Technology Center is a Shanghai-based joint venture created to develop next-generation AUDI vehicles and technologies specifically for the Chinese market. The center has end-to-end vehicle development capabilities and will focus on smart electric vehicle technologies, vehicle dynamics, AI-powered smart cockpits, advanced driver-assistance systems, software-defined vehicles and AI-defined vehicles. It will employ about 300 people, with Matthias Pfister serving as general manager and Shan Yunwei as deputy general manager. SAIC, Audi and Volkswagen Group China hold 49%, 41% and 10% stakes, respectively.